- Location
- Behind a large rock
Funny thing about "dry camps".... somebody is always sneak drinking. Lmfao.
Drinking at hunt camp
- Thread starter Amelio
- Start date
- Location
- Behind a large rock
A km isn't a far walk on easy terrain, but it can be pretty damn far in the steep coastal rainforest that surrounds much of the LML. Absolutely, the truck and 4 wheel traffic disturbs game- in that the big bucks generally get off the road and up the mountain or down the drainage away from the roads. All that driving will push animals away from the road hunters and right into the guys that get off the road and do the hard work.
Not saying that nobody ever bags a deer on the side of a logging road, happens all the time, but rarely the big ones.
When you say that the hunting around the LML is poor and you need the place to yourself to effectively hunt and that truck traffic on the road is detrimental to your success, it tells me that you didn't know how to hunt around there, you are out of your element and unable to adapt to a completely new type of hunting.
The main big game species hunted in this area are blacktail/ mule deer and black bear.
Black bear hunting around the LML can be as good or better than anywhere else in Canada, especially as the population of bears are high, you can hunt them about 6 months of the year, there are plenty of big ones and you are allowed 2 a year. Where else in Canada than southern BC can you get out and stretch your legs or drive around (as you choose) and see multiple bears every day, without having to do all the work of baiting and endure sitting on stand? Heck, a couple of years ago due to work and other commitments I had 1 (one) day to hunt bear. My buddy and I went out that afternoon and glassed across a valley, didn't see much at first until finally I say "check out that black spot there with your spotter" Cionfirmed bear, looks good. An hour later I dropped the 6'8" bear...It doesnt' always happen that way, but anyone that spends 3-4 days in the LML region can kill a bear. Anyone that spends 4-7 days can kill a big bear. If you hunt reasonably smart, of course.
Blacktail hunting around the LML can be very good hunting, but for it to be good, it's not easy. Every year, trophy class blacktails are killed within an hour of the LML, usually by guys that get off the road, do the research and do the work. Mature Blacktails are by far the toughest deer to hunt, they are smart, cagey, virtually impossible to pattern, and live in tough terrain. However, many of these big bucks are killed in areas that have lots of pressure along the road systems, by hunters that left the road. They may still be able to hear the trucks and quads, and the deer can too, but the deer don't care because they know they have 500m of cover between them and the road hunters.
I'm not sure what sort of tactics you employed to come to the conclusion that hunting was poor because of road hunters, but I tell you one thing- I'm fine hearing trucks and quads go by when I am off the road. It's when they park and start climbing up the same ridge I am on (very rare) that can be an issue. And even then, if you know which direction they are headed, you can use them to your advantage.
BC has very little private land compared to public land. Those used to 'controlling' all hunting in an area may find it challenging to hunt with others in the area, I suppose.
And to stay on topic- yeah, some of those road hunters are sipping a beer while they road hunt, too.
There's one thing you forgot.. both inside and very close to the LML. A bow or x-bow can be your best friend.
A coffee (or two) and a shot of something in the morning isn't a big deal.
A beer or two at lunch isn't a big deal.
Drink as much as you like after the guns are put away as long as you don't become a ####; heated arguments, start a fight, just be a general as$hole, etc.
If you're bleary-eyed and somewhat hungover the next morning but can still get to your stand, I don't see a problem. (Group hunts are something else)
If someone is still drunk in the morning send them back to bed.
I can totally get that for a lot of guys this is their one (or two) weeks away from the family for the year and it's the one chance they get to break rules and have lots of fun. But it can be done in a safe manner. I was at my cabin last week with a friend and we got totally s$hit-faced and stayed up til 2am talking philosophy. It was an awesome evening. Can't do that at home.
For me, personally, I don't drink at all during the day, but once the end of the day comes and the gun is put away I'll have a bunch of drinks. And I'm usually up before the sun and heading to my stand.
A beer or two at lunch isn't a big deal.
Drink as much as you like after the guns are put away as long as you don't become a ####; heated arguments, start a fight, just be a general as$hole, etc.
If you're bleary-eyed and somewhat hungover the next morning but can still get to your stand, I don't see a problem. (Group hunts are something else)
If someone is still drunk in the morning send them back to bed.
I can totally get that for a lot of guys this is their one (or two) weeks away from the family for the year and it's the one chance they get to break rules and have lots of fun. But it can be done in a safe manner. I was at my cabin last week with a friend and we got totally s$hit-faced and stayed up til 2am talking philosophy. It was an awesome evening. Can't do that at home.
For me, personally, I don't drink at all during the day, but once the end of the day comes and the gun is put away I'll have a bunch of drinks. And I'm usually up before the sun and heading to my stand.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
Actually a very true observation I have made also.
More aware of health effects, cost , liabilities , etc....
There is no loss from not drinking, well, hangovers I guess.
More aware of health effects, cost , liabilities , etc....
There is no loss from not drinking, well, hangovers I guess.
It's more politically correct not to drink, and as we're swinging further and further to the left, we are drinking less, smoking less, shooting less. Anything fun, we are doing less.
Pretty much agree 100%. I used to be all about the kill, now its all about winding down and having some fun. If were successful, great, if not, still have a great time and look forward to next year. Typically at least one night we all get into it and sleep in the next morning. Try to time that around the weather and a rainy morning, so I don't feel like I missed much.
But different strokes for different folks. Do what you enjoy and hang out with the people who enjoy it the way you do. Be safe, and have fun.
At my camp we have very few if any set in stone rules because we are all grown adults......... That being said, with regards to drinking, no one is told when to have a drink or when not to have a drink.... But if it's getting close to noon and you haven't consumed some sort of alcoholic beverage you better have a god dam good reason why!!!!!
Exactly. No unnecessary rules and freedom to do what you want, with friends who will look after you if your exuberance in being free gets the better of you !!
Guys who don't normally indulge ( in food booze and fun ! ) letting loose and yes, sometimes you gotta give them a nudge to get them to relax.
Hardest part of deer camp is leaving at the end of the week.
I went out with a new partner last week. He told me he had a bottle of rum and one evening offered me a drink after dinner. It was a half-full mickey of amber Bacardi. We had one hot rum toddy each for the three nights we were there.
Not like one of my regular partners who always has about 18 cans of imported beer along plus at least one bottle of Alberta Springs.
I like to bring lots of homemade wine usually, but I didn't want the new guy to think I was a piss tank.
Even in a boozy camp, all the drinking is done after the day's hunt is done, though we have been known to have a celebratory beer at 9:00 a.m. if we have knocked something down.
Not like one of my regular partners who always has about 18 cans of imported beer along plus at least one bottle of Alberta Springs.
I like to bring lots of homemade wine usually, but I didn't want the new guy to think I was a piss tank.
Even in a boozy camp, all the drinking is done after the day's hunt is done, though we have been known to have a celebratory beer at 9:00 a.m. if we have knocked something down.
